PKM UNS 2021 Team was led by Dian Eka Ermawati, M.Sc., Apt., and Wisnu Kundarto, M.Biomed., Apt., and M. Fiqri Zulpadly, M.Biomed., Apt., as members. The team considers hand sanitizer and handwash sales are increasing amid the pandemic. To capture this opportunity, this team developed a product that uses the natural content of lemongrass, citronellal (30-45%), and geraniol (60-80%), that have antibacterial and antifungal activities. The site is selected because Samigaluh Subdistrict is known as the center for essential oil production or locally known as minyak kleyang. There are at least 20 collectors incorporated in Sari Jaya Cooperative.

“Essential oil is produced to meet demands from many parts of Indonesia, such as Jakarta, Solo, Purwokerto, and locally in Special Region of Yogyakarta,” Iffah Mufidiati, the Head of Disdagdin Kulon Progo District, explained on Saturday (5/6/2021).

The newly developed product needs further physical, chemical, preparation stability, and antibacterial and antifungal activities to ensure product quality. Besides the test, the production process also faced challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic that decrease demand and price. “Product marketing is also held using conventional method around the local area with low purchasing power,” Bambang Suryanto, Surya Wulan MSME owner, stated.

Dian Eka Ermawati, M.Sc., Apt., said that an alternative offered by the UNS PKM team to increase sales is online marketing which focuses on digital marketing through social media online shopping channels. This effort is expected to improve sales following social distancing policy implementation that changed consumer’s purchasing behavior. “Digital transformation is expected to provide a solution for the issues faced by the MSME Surya Wulan,” Dian Eka Ermawati, M.Sc., Apt., stated.

This community service program is expected to support other MSMEs productions to improve people’s welfare amid the Covid-19 pandemic. This program also initiates the Academic-Business-Government networking that focuses on empowerment that will strengthen UNS mission. Humas UNS

Reporter: Rangga Pangestu Adji
Editor: Dwi Hastuti

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